One of the few books I feel like can be called "unique" in their own right. The quirkiness with which Alasdair has written this book from the character names, to the paradoxical messages, to the writing style, to the plot itself, all make it seem a weird, incongruent, daring and yet at the end of it all beautiful story.

The book asks questions. Who are the poor things? Is the protagonist, is it the men she's spent time with, is the poor in society, is it the rich, is it maybe the mad scientist or his trusty sidekick? Or is it maybe all of it? It does depend on one's interpretation of reality, and of the characters themselves, doesn't it?

The way in which the book is written, makes it seem as if the whole narration is just a story being told from a single perspective. It throws a wrench at the end by letting you ponder over what would happen if somebody were to question the legitimacy of the statements throughout the story and how different some outcomes might have been.

I liked this book. I enjoy open-ended questions and books with no answer. Quirky jokes and easter eggs for my gaze to notice throughout. I also had the luck to go through it with a group of friends who also spotted differences. I recommend you do the same!